Sam Tomkins: Why I'm walking away from the Warriors

Sam Tomkins. Photo / Michael Craig

Opinion

I never expected I would miss England and the comforts of home but it took an off-season trip back to Wigan for me to realise this is where I wanted to be.

I settled into Auckland life well last year and homesickness had never entered my head, but I started feeling unsettled soon after I arrived back to begin pre-season training in December.

After mulling it all over for some time I eventually approached Warriors managing director Jim Doyle and coach Andrew McFadden and told them that, if there was an opportunity, I would like to be back in England next year.

Their reaction was brilliant and I could not have asked them to be any more supportive or understanding. Both Jim and Cappy are living abroad and away from family themselves, so could relate to what I was feeling.

They basically told me they would let me go providing they could find an adequate replacement and recoup some of the transfer fee they had paid to get me.

It went quiet for a while and then they let me know they were trying to sign Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

They said, 'if we get him, you can leave, but if he doesn't sign then you'll be staying put', which I was happy with.

Word eventually came through that Roger was signing and the club agreed I could leave but my release still hinges on him coming here.

There is still a clause in my contract with Wigan which says my release from the Warriors is conditional on Roger arriving here as, technically, he still has until the round 13 deadline to change his mind.

It seems like ages ago now but I'm relieved to have my release from the Warriors sorted for the end of the season and now I just want to get back to playing footy.

I've been pleasantly surprised by the positive response from club members, fans and the general public.

Their reaction has been brilliant. A lot of folk that I've met on the street or just bumped into have said 'we'd like you to stay' but they also understand my reasons for wanting to return home.

I've found a lot of Kiwis are very family-oriented and they seem to understand I'm not leaving for any financial gain or anything like that. I just want to be back around my friends and family and people accept that.

I've been asked what it was like dealing with all the media speculation about my future but, to be honest, it was never an issue.

You get used to speculation when you are playing league and I've had it a lot more in the past.

When I was at Wigan looking to come over to New Zealand I had to deal with rumours and speculation for months on end ... so this was relatively easy.

I've never let any off-field issues distract me from my playing responsibilities and with my future pretty much finalised I don't need to think about returning to Wigan until the end of the year.

I want to make it clear, though, that I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here in New Zealand and I certainly have no regrets about making the move Downunder.

The Warriors were the right club for me. I could not have seen myself living in Sydney and settling with any other club. It is too much of a goldfish bowl over there, whereas the environment here at the Warriors really suits me.

I've had a ball over the past 18 months and will continue enjoying my time here over the next few months as well.